Family narrowly escaped death on the N2 highway

A Durban family narrowly escaped death on the N2 highway on Saturday
night when a rock smashed through their windscreen and landed inside the
car.

Chris Smith, 42, of Queensburgh, said they were on their way home after
watching the Super 14 final at a friend's home in Warner Beach, near
Amanzimtoti. He was accompanied by his daughter, Truleigh-Ann Smith, 17,
and her boyfriend, Sheldon van der Schyff, 20.

Smith said they left Warner Beach at about 9.45pm and were at the
Kingsway Hospital bridge at 10pm when the incident occurred.

"When we approached the bridge, I saw a big square block lying in the
road. I swerved to go over the block and that's when the rock hit the
windscreen," he said.

he windscreen cracked and the rock landed on the back seat, where
Truleigh-Ann had been sitting just before.

However, Smith was able to continue driving to the Malvern police
station, where he reported the incident.

He said he was shocked to learn that there had been similar cases in
the past where rocks were thrown from bridges on to cars by hijackers in
an attempt to force their victims off the road and bring the car to a
halt.

"I don't think that much can be done about it, because the people who do
this are long gone by the time police get to the scene," he said.

Smith said that people who had similar experiences should not stop. He
called for more police patrols on pedestrian bridges and for fences to
be put up on the city's bridges.

"It's expensive, but it can save lives. You can't put a price on human
life. People must be vigilant when driving under bridges at night," he
said.

Police Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge said the incident would be
investigated.
This article was originally published on page 2 of The
Mercury on May 31, 2010